Method of making pastry cups and the like

ABSTRACT

Apparatus for and method of making products, such as pastry cups, ice cream cones and the like, by baking batter in split molds carried by mold bars, the molds cooperating with removable cores carried by core bars selectively latched to the mold bars. The mold bars are mounted on a continuously operating conveyor by which they are progressively carried through an oven, a core bar removing station, a mold opening and product removing station, mold closing and mold charging stations, a core bar replacement station, a core bar jogging station, and a core bar latching station. When the core bars with their cores are removed from the mold bars, they are temporarily stored on and carried by the conveyor. The apparatus includes split molds with mold opening and closing means; mechanism for removing core bars from mold bars, storing the core bars, and reapplying them to the mold bars; means for centering the core bars on the mold bars to thus register the cores with the mold cavities; mechanism for latching and unlatching the core bars; and means for removing the product from the molds and forwarding the same to a product trimming station.

United States Patent l l Griner et al.

[ Aug. 26, 1975 l l METHOD OF MAKING PASTRY (UPS AND THE LIKE US]Inventors: Arthur J. (lriner, Wyckoll; Daniel Anthony Kappa, Bloomfield,both of [731 Assignee: Nabisco. lnc., Ne York. NY

I22] Filed:

[2| l Appl, No

Related US. Application Data [62] Division ol' Scri No. M3107, Jan 4,197],

May 1, I973 Primur lituminvr-Rohcrt L. Lindsay, Jr Attorney, Agent, orFirmDalc A. Bauer; Irving A. Stromheck [57] ABSTRACT Apparatus for andmethod of making products. such as pastry cups, ice cream cones and thelike, by baking hatter in split molds carried by mold bars, the moldscooperating with removable cores carried by core bars selectivelylatched to the mold bars. The mold bars are mounted on a continuouslyoperating conveyor by which they are progressively carried through anoven. a core har removing station. a mold opening and product removingstation, mold closing and mold charging stations, a core hairreplacement station, a core bar jogging station, and a core bar latchingstation, When the core bars with their cores are removed from the moldbars, they are temporarily stored on and carried by the conveyor. Theapparatus includes split molds with mold opening and closing means;mechanism for removing core bars from mold hars, storing the core bars,and reapplying them to the mold bars; means for centering the core barson the mold bars to thus regis ter the cores with the mold cavities;mechanism for latching and unlatching the core bars; and means forremoving the product from the molds and forwarding the same to a producttrimming station.

12 Claims, 40 Drawing Figures SHEET PATENTEU mnzsms SHEET PATENTED AUG 26 I975 SHEET PATENTEU AUGZ 81975 PATENTED AUG 2 6 I975 SHEET qui mmguAuszsms SHEET PATENTEU mzsms SHEET CIIL 0: am a SHEET PATENTEU mczsms wW.W K

pmmgumszsms SHEET llllll I1 i i E W 5 m \xwmm m @om/ mm) -Lmii g x SHEETPATENTEI] AUG 2 81975 Pmmmwnz m 3.901.982 SHEET 17lllllllllllilllillllll m d/w 2 h L SHEET PATENTEMuszs [97s

1. A METHOD OF PRODUCING BAKED PASTRY PRODUCTS COMPRISING THE STEPS OFMOVING A PLURALITY OF LONGITUDINALLY SPACED MOLDS AND INTERFITTED CORESSUCCESSIVELY THROUGH A BAKING ZONE ON A CONVEYOR, REMOVING THE CORE FROMTHE PRODUCT IN EACH MOLD AND FROM THE CONVEYOR AFTER THE EMERGANCE OFTHE MOLD FROM THE BAKING ZONE AND TEMPORARILY STORING EACH REMOVED COREON THE CONVEYOR BETWEEN SUCCESSIVE MOLDS, LIFTING THE PRODUCT FROM EACHMOLD AFTER REMOVAL OF THE CORE THEREFROM, CHARGING EACH EMPTIED MOLDWITH BATTER, AND SUCCESSIVELY REMOVING THE STORED CORES FROM THECONVEYOR AND INSERTING THEM IN THE CHARGED MOLDS.
 2. A method accordingto claim 1 wherein the molds are moved continuously in a closedrepetitive path.
 3. A method according to claim 1 comprising the step ofcentering the stored cones laterally as they are being removed from theconveyor for insertion in the molds.
 4. A method of producing hollowbaked pastry products comprising carrying a plurality of batter-chargedmolds and associted cores successively through an oven on a continuouslydriven endless conveyor, and performing the following steps uponsuccessive molds and cores after their emergence from the oven: removingthe core from each mold, the product therein and the conveyor,temporarily storing the removed core on the conveyor, opening the mold,thereafter lifting the product from the opened mold, closing the moldand charging the same with batter, and removing a stored core from theconveyor and inserting it into the charged mold.
 5. A method accordingto claim 4 comprising jogging the cores relative to the moldsimmediately after the reinsertion of the cores into the molds to releaseair and steam from the molds, and fixedly securing the cores to themolds after the emergence of the molds from the core jogging means.
 6. Amethod of producing baked pastry products comprising moving a pluralityof separable molds and interfitted cores successively from a baking zoneon a conveyor, and removing the core and thereafter the product fromsuccessive molds while the molds are in motion with the conveyorcomprising disposing a product extractor in longitudinal alignment withthe molds, advancing the extractor independently of the conveyor toengage the product in a closed mold and thereafter holding the producton the extractor, and retracting the extractor to lift the productengaged thereby out of the open mold.
 7. A method according to claim 6including moving the extractor independently of the conveyor so as totrack the mold during the time that the extractor is advanced toward theproduct and initially engages it.
 8. A method according to claim 7wherein the molds have one part affixed to the conveyor and another partmovable with respect to said one part, and comprising retarding trackingmotion of the extractor and product relative to said one partimmediately before the extractor lifts the product from the mold.
 9. Themethod of making baked molded products which comprises the steps ofsimultaneously advancing a mold and a core therefor in an endless pathon a conveyor moving continuously, injecting a metered quantity ofmoldable material into the cavity of the advancing mold, lifting thecore off of the conveyor and inserting the same into the cavity of theadvancing mold, securing the mold and core in assembled relation,releasing the core from the mold, lifting the core out of the advancingmold and off of the conveyor, depositing the removed core on theconveyor outside of the mold, opening the mold and lifting the moldedproduct from the opened mold, and closing the mold preparatory toinjecting moldable material into the cavity thereof.
 10. A method asdefined in claim 9 comprising the step of jogging the core within andrelative to the mold preparatory to securing the mold and core inassembled relation.
 11. A method as defined in claim 9 comprising thestep of suction gripping the molded product within the mold afterlifting the core therefrom and advancing the product with the mold whilethe latter is being opened.
 12. A method as defined in claim 11 whichincludes retarding the advance of the gripped product after the mold isopened to release the product from the advancing mold before lifting theproduct from the opened mold.